THE Community responder bULVERDE SPRING BRANCH FIRE

THE Community responder
bULVERDE SPRING BRANCH FIRE & EMS
APRIL 2015
VOLUME III, ISSUE 2
Pancake Breakfast, Ribbon Cutting & Annual Community Update
Citizens enjoyed the pancake
breakfast, tour of the new station,
and chatting with all of the
directors and staff of BSB Fire &
EMS on Saturday, April 18th at the
newest station at Johnson Ranch.
There was a wonderful community
turn-out with elected officials from
the State, County, City of Bulverde, ESD Commissioners from 1, 4
and 5, and the Non-profit Board led by its President, Colonel Steve
Stevenson. The board also presented their annual report to the
community on the previous year's activity. It was an enjoyable and
momentous day!!
The mobile clinic and classroom,
Wellness on Wheels, or WOW, traveled to
the Valero Texas Open in March and
served as the medical "tent"/clinic. BSB
Fire & EMS was WOW'd by the Open's
work and preparation for the PGA's
golfers. BSB Fire & EMS stood ready to
help in case of any emergency at the
event.
Station Wagon to WOW, page 3
ESD #4 — Champions of Fire & Rescue,
page 5
PEC’s Light the Way, page 6
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Breakfast, Ribbon and Update
(continued from front
cover)
From serving up pancakes, raising the
flag, and enjoying the opportunity to
meet and talk with
all the wonderful
personnel and
leadership at
Bulverde Spring
Branch Fire & EMS,
the 2015 Annual
Update was a true
success all around!
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From station wagon
to wow
On Saturday, April 18th, Bulverde Spring
Branch Fire & EMS celebrated the opening of
their newest station in Johnson Ranch. From
its modest beginnings, it truly is remarkable in
how this 36-year old organization has evolved. Their mission statement, “to respond
immediately with educated professionals through pioneering science and technology,
creating profound good,” is lived each and every day. The organization actually had
three separate beginnings but all have connecting stories that ultimately becomes a
model system.
1959 - The Spring Branch Volunteer Fire Department was the first emergency services
organization in the Bulverde Spring Branch area. The Community Service Committee of
the Spring Branch Grange set forth motion in the community to see if the people would
support the establishment of a Volunteer Fire Department. The vote that evening was
nearly unanimous in favor, and a committee of seven men was elected to investigate the
future. Interestingly, Curtis Bremer, one of those seven original gentlemen, has
continued to serve emergency services for over 55 years with distinction. The fire
department went on to fund their firefighting through a Women’s Auxiliary and too many
bake sales and barbeques to list.
1966 – Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department was formed because of an obvious need for
structure and brush firefighting, but the founders also worked to form a Rescue Squad
with medical capabilities in the formative years. The department was originally the
Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department, but was split into two separate departments
in 1986 to establish tax funds more effectively between the two counties. Bexar County
helped with funding in the early years.
1978 - Bulverde-Spring Branch EMS was formed after a 46-year old man died of a heart
attack and Bexar County (San Antonio) was unable to cross the county line and a local
hospital was too far. Like both local fire departments, EMS had meager beginnings,
transporting out of a converted station wagon. Soon a slew of bake sales and other
creative fundraisers began. Many 911 calls were run from the homes of volunteers.
Ambulances ran out of a station in this rural county of Comal. The ambulances shared
the bays with frisky raccoons many evenings.
Over the last 55 years since the creation of the first Fire Department (and subsequent
departments) financial struggles were always on the top of every meeting and strategic
planning session. There was one other constant — every medic, every firefighter, every
volunteer, and every medical director has pushed for improved increased standards in
service, training, communication, patient care, as well as fire scene skill and
responsiveness. (continued on page 4)
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Wagon to WOW (continued from previous page)
FUNDING
The two fire departments and the EMS
department eventually received some
limited funding from Rural Fire Prevention
Districts
and
Emergency
Services
Districts, which are political subdivisions
with taxing authority created through
petitions signed by at least 100 voters in
Comal County and then voted upon in the proposed district. In their rural county over
the last 55 years many factors have developed to make maintaining a viable Fire & EMS
department, with up-to-date vehicles and highly trained personnel a significant
challenge such as:
● Population density and growth
● High traffic increase including increased motor vehicle accidents
● Increase in commercial and residential construction
● Large increase in the number of Fire & EMS 911 calls
ALMOST TO THE PRESENT
In 2014 the two fire departments agreed that to strengthen the daily operations and
meet budget challenges, forming a single governance structure with EMS was the best
answer. Bulverde Spring Branch Emergency Services, dba Bulverde Spring Branch
Fire & EMS, was created to manage the merged departments under the direction of
Mechelle Salmon, the Chief Executive Director. With six months preparation, the
merger was planned and executed. Salmon and her team worked with the Board of
Directors and leadership of four (4) separate and distinct organizations to merge into
one. Salmon and her team worked to see every benefit, every paycheck, and each
career continued without interruption. Fire & EMS Chiefs ensured cohesion and
company pride by creating a new combined shield, new uniforms and re-decaling all
32 vehicles. This profound change happened without one single delay in fire
response, or response to any ill or injured citizen in their 216 square mile district. This
merged company includes Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS, the Centre for
Emergency Health Sciences, and Acacia Medical, and is a model for Texas and
beyond, in both best practices and care for community members.
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Emergency Services District #4
Champions of Fire & Rescue
Emergency Services District #4 (ESD #4) serves a 114 square mile area and station
placement is critical. Distance is the enemy of life-saving outcomes. Structure fires
also require fast action to save occupants and their pets, and to limit damage.
Likewise, if brush fires are not contained immediately, the underbrush and Cedar
trees can quickly consume acres and threaten structures.
TODAY, we’ve got you covered…
TOMORROW…we need two more permanent stations:
● In the eastern part of Highway 46 West (recent opening of a Day Station at FM
311 and Rebecca Creek Road)
● At Mystic Shores and FM 306
Emergency Service Districts in our area are also challenged with explosive growth,
both residential and commercial, staffing and equipping stations to keep response
times under ten minutes, and interoperability radio communications.
ESD #4 has a local cap of 6¢ on its property tax while neighboring ESDs have the
state allowable cap of 10¢. This election, we are requesting an increase in the the
cap. THIS IS NOT FOR A TAX INCREASE. There will be no tax increase in 2015.
The May 9th Election IS critical. The question on the ballot reads:
“Authorizing an increase in the maximum ad valorem tax rate that Comal County
Emergency Services District No. 4 may impose on property within the District to a
rate not to exceed ten cents ($0.10) per one hundred dollars ($100).”
This election is the first request for a property tax issue since the cap was
established in 2004.
Early Voting
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Monday, April 27th - Tuesday, May 5th
(except Saturday, May 2nd and Sunday, May 3rd)
Election Day
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Polling Location:
Central Station
353 Rodeo Drive
Spring Branch
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LIGHT THE WAY LUNCHEON
Judy Millspaugh, BSB Fire & EMS Development Director, and Gwen Pain,
also with the Development Department, attended the Pedernales Electric’s
Light the Way luncheon. The program gratefully recognizes and supports
groups such as chambers of commerce, emergency medical services, libraries, fire
departments and senior citizen centers serving members in their 8,100-square-mile
territory. BSB Fire & EMS received a $1,000 donation from the Co-op. In addition,
attendees heard a very motivating presentation from Ronnie McDonald, former
Bastrop County Judge and executive director for Texas A&M AgriLife’s community
relations and strategic partnerships. In this capacity he serves as the executive
director of the Texas Rural Leadership Program, Inc. and provides leadership as an
ex-officio member of the board of directors. The message he delivered was the
importance of connecting with each other in our rural setting, which can be difficult
if individuals do not make an effort to close the gaps in outreach.
Left: Ronnie McDonald, guest speaker
Right: (l to r) Sandy Hancock, BSB Chamber of
Commerce Director, Judy Millspaugh, BSB Fire &
EMS Development Director and Rhonda Zunker,
BSB Chamber of Commerce President.
Copyright 2015
All Rights Reserved
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